The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-17
THE w HEN
A. A. McKAIN,
MON U UMENTS
80 Massachusetts Avenue.
A CHAPTER ON PRIME DONNIE.
Olive Logan Counsels Amateur Singers and
Advises the Cultivation of Modesty.

Special to tho Indianapolis journal
WASHINGTON, April 16-One of the ancient
philosophers maintains that the primary re-
quirements of humanity are food. clothing and
music. Their necessity to man is in the order
given. think he must have many adherents to
his belief among the fashionable world OF our
day. In every assembly there appears to be
vocalist ready, waiting for the slightest hint
from the hostess to display his or her talents to
the temporary suspension of all other interests.
Occasionally one hears "a very good song, very
well sung" from the lips Of these aspiring be-
ings, but usually, it the auditors were really to
express their actual state Of feeling after one Of
these crude society" performances the cry they
would enunciate would be basta! basta! and not
encore! or bis! bis! One may sing as one likes,
il one guards the secluson of ones own lyric
apartment; but when has the temeritv to
face an assembly among whom there may DO
critics Of thirty years training, like myself
one must be prepared to be looked upon as
we'll let me say. bluntly. as fool; for only
fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Thirty
years ago lived in Paris in a house belonging
to Signor Gardoni, and this most delicious
tenore di grazia OF his day occupied with his
family suite of rooms in the same building.
l was always a welcome guest in their splendid
ly furnished salons, and what company met
therel The great contralto, II me- Alboni;
the sopeani, Pence, Marie Cabel. Miolan
Carvalho; the composers, Rossini, Auber, Am
broise Thomas. These are only few among the
grand celebrities with whom I held converse
concerning the art divine of melody. What I
heard from them sufficiently explains the search
ty Of really fine singers. Magnificent health is
the first requirement of a vocalist That which
makes US to live-the breath of hfe-should be
to the singer but as a toy with which an infant
plays. Senor Garcia has we'll expressed the
| amazing respiratory power of the skilled vocal
| list, who can hold lighted candle before his
mouth and sing his most vehement mo-ceaux
! without causing the flame to be extnguished or
| even to wavsr. The slightest disturbance of the
| flame would show that too much air was being
| expended. That singer only is an accomplished
artist who can control the lung expiration that
| the least possible amount of air sufficient tc
cause vibration is poured continuously, but i'm.
pcrceptihly, uron the vocal organs Some sing.
ers whom have heard puff plainly enough te
blow out Mount Vesuvus.
With good lung capacity, right method ol
breathing and healthy condition of the vibrating
| element. something else is required of the sing
| ian music masters speak. Jagielski describes
| this quality of voice direction IS 'kissipg the
| words as they pass" How often we hear ambi
| tious young ladies shrek. Robert, toi oct
| j'ame!" as if they were addressing an appeal fol
| mercy to an executioner, not an avowal of pas
| sion TO q lover.
Facial expression is another requisite Of tn.
| true artist. 1t should be Of piece with tht
| emotion of a song When the muscles of tn,
face and month convey the idea of agony. vocal
lied words Of joy fail painfully of the desired
| effect. She would be sorry specimen of tn
bailet-dancer who would facially betray to u
| that 1t hurts her pedal extremities when sh
| stands her toes, and the human lark VIII
sings here below should at least simulate tn
ecstatic happiness of the luscious-voiced wonde
| who scars upon the wing OLIVE LOGAN.